Heath
Ledger's odds of winning an Oscar for his portrayal
of the Joker in "Batman: The Dark Night"
were listed at a whopping 1/66 at Sportingbet.com.
He's a bigger lock to win "Best Supporting
Actor" than Jamie Foxx was to take home the
Oscar a few years back for "Ray". In
other words, Ledger is the closest thing to a
"lock" in the betting world as the New
York Yankees would be beating a little league
squad.

The
Media Man, Greg Tingle, tells Gambling911.com
that everyone in Ledger's native Australia will
be tuned in to watch the Oscars later this month.

"Australia
is very excited about the Heath Ledger being nominated,"
Tingle Said. "I never heard anyone ever say
a bad word about him. Heath used to live just
down the road from us at Bronte Beach, however,
one or two rabid paparazzi saw Health generally
keen a lower public profile in the proceeding
12 months prior to his untimely death. Like many
actors, artists and talented arty types, his fame
grew after he left us, and Australia still loves
him despite Ledger's sometimes problem with drugs,
which ultimately cost him his life."

Still,
it will be a bittersweet moment. Ledger died at
the age of 28, from an accidental "toxic
combination of prescription drugs". Likewise,
Australia is reeling from a series of bush fires
that have taken nearly 200 lives.

"Australia
is in somewhat of a doubly somber mood at the
moment with the reminder of Ledger no longer being
amongst us in addition to many of us having friends
and contacts adversely effected by the terrible
bushfire's in Victoria which have cost over 150
lives, and even more tragic, some of the fires
have been found to be deliberately lit. Our Prime
Minister, Kevin Rudd has called it ‘mass
murder'.

"The
Oscars could give Australia and indeed the western
world some light relief and all important escapism
from Mother Earth's current woes, much of which
are man made."

"The
Oscars have every chance of breaking ratings and
viewership records and no doubt that's exactly
what advertisers and sponsors will be hoping for."

Heath
Ledger can rest a little easier this summer, as a
police investigation has found no charges will be
filed against the actor following an alleged assault
on a photographer.

Ledger
was interviewed by police after a complaint was made
to them by freelance photographer Pierre Smithdorf
claiming Ledger had assaulted him and damaged his
car after he had photographed the actor outside Bondi
Icebergs.

However,
Smithdorf's complaint, which alleged that Ledger pushed
him and kicked his car after Smithdorf photographed
him and girlfriend Michelle Williams outside the restaurant,
went no further due to lack of evidence, police said
yesterday.

Police
had to wait until Ledger and Williams returned from
a holiday in Perth to interview them regarding the
December 22 incident.

"As
a result of a full police investigation, no further
action by police will be taken," a police spokesman
told Confidential.

"All
parties have been interviewed - witnesses, as well
- but as a result of that, there has been insufficient
evidence to proceed with a complaint."

It
is understood that a witness to the alleged incident
declined to give police an official statement and
that poor light meant the CCTV footage was useless.